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How to become a bioinformatician?

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“What is a k-mer? And this algorithm here, how does it work? Wait, is this code written in Python? Here, even today I have to worry, I have to study, but where do I get this information? "

You cannot imagine how many times I find myself in such situations during my studies in bioinformatics, but my tenacity has led me to devise a lot of ways to fill the various gaps that inevitably present themselves in my path of study in the world of bioinformatics.

Today I will talk to you about how I do my personal study with the aim of becoming a bioinformatician. Obviously with regard to biological issues I am more advantaged, but it is clear even there it is sometimes necessary to review or study something new. In fact, I have a degree in Agricultural Sciences and I am earning a master's degree in Plant Biotechnology, so I inevitably chew organic more.

One of he first things that I realized is that to become a bioinformatician I must have excellent knowledge in statistics. It is clear, we must not get lost in the definitions and mathematical calculations that are hidden behind the different statistical tests applied during a study but understand the principle of that test, that is to understand when it is useful to use it and what it allows to do. Statistics, in fact, is a tool that allows us to clearly understand a phenomenon, the reality that surrounds us without falling into numerous and insidious cognitive errors (the so-called bias) that our damned brain is evolutionarily led to create. However to use statistics, and in particular to analyze and manipulate the biological information, it is necessary to know programming languages ​​in order to communicate and make the computer perform these operations.

Wanting to be schematic and concise, I can tell you that to become a bioinformatician it is necessary:

  1. Know in a very general way how a computer works.
  2. Knowing some programming languages ​​that allow us to communicate with the computer, among these in the bioinformatics field Python, Perl, R are very useful. In addition it is necessary to know how to use commands in bash, but don't worry we'll talk about it.
  3. Learn about molecular biology, genetics, genomics and evolution concepts, as well as pathology and much more.

Where to recover all this? Well there are several tools:

Well I think I have said everything for today, I hope that now you have some more tools to start a personal study path in the world of bioinformatics. If you have any comments or questions to ask me, please use the section below in the blog, and in order not to miss the next articles I suggest you subscribe to the blog in order to receive an email notification.

Bye and see you soon.

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